Container



Nov. 18, 1924. 1,516,275

I H. R. HANSEN CONTAINER Filed Dec. 24. 1923 2 Shaun-Sheet l ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES HENRY R. HANSEN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

CONTAINER.

Application filed December 24, 1923. Serial No. 682,376.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY R. HANSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to those adapted to the carrying of eggs, being especially adapted to holding eggs for transport against break age. The improved container may be readily manufactured, it is inexpensive, and also may be readily shipped, brought'into a position for use, and finally closed for shipment position whenholdingthe eggs therein.

The invention has certain objects, which are, simplicity of manufacture and relative inexpensiveness, also strength on the one hand and cushioning effects on the other hand;

The invention will be more fully described hereinaftenshown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a container as shown in Fig. 1, in open position, as it is being filled;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved container while in open position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 6 is a plan view of my improved container when in collapsed position ready for shipment;

' Fig. 7 is a transverse section of Fig. 6 taken on line 77;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a blank of the form shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of blank.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of another modified form ofblank.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, my improved container is made from the blank 11 as shown in Fig. 8, which is provided with scorings 12, and with cutout .portions 13 at the ends of the blank. The blank is also provided with flaps 14 which are hinged at 15 to the blank, and which portions 14 may be bent on the hinge 15 in a downward position, as indicated in Fig. 4. These portions 14 have notches 16, whereby the ends of these portions 14 may be depressed, the notched portions overlapping each other, similar to the fingers of a human hand when the same are pressed together tightly and overlap each other. This overlapping of these fingers gives a yieldable pressure against any body which contacts therewith. The blank, after it has been cut into shape, as shown in Fig. 8, with a series of hinged cutouts 14, is joined together by mucilage or glue or any other adhesive substance so that the portions 17 contact with part of the portions 19. The flaps 18, with the cutouts 13 remain free in position, and contact with the bottom. This is shown in Fig. 4, in which the flaps 18 having the cutouts 13 are free in position and rest on the bottom 20 of each boxlike shaped up blank.

These flaps 18 form a spring or cushion, and at the same time act to strengthen the container. Y

The sides of the box indicated are formed from the portions 21 of the blank. When the blank is joined in the manner as stated a and the flaps 14 and 18 depressed, a boxlike structure is produced, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the flaps 18 being arranged lowermost, so that their recesses or cutouts 13 provide an angular abutment on which the ends of the eggs rest.

This curved angular abutment holds the egg in position against movement and the flap 18 and the flap 14 together with or without the fingers 16, adjust themselves to act as a spring or cushion. The flap 14 presses against the flap 18. This is shown in plan view, Fig. 3 and in section of Fig. 4.-

When the parts are in position, as shown in Fig. 2 and in section in Fig. 4, the eggs are placed therein with the ends thereof abuttingagainst the cutout 13 and against the fingers 16, as shown in Fig. 2. These eggs are only placed along one half of the container shown in Fig. 2, the other half being constructed in identically the same manner, but used as a cover, and brought into the position as shown in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 5, whereby both ends of the egg abut against the cutouts, and at the same time against the fingers 16, whereby they are ,,yieldingly and resiliently held in position, in'the nature of a cushioned support. In the preferred form described in which the cutouts 13 are arranged, it has been found that the eggs are held in position and against turning during shipment. It has also been found that the eggs are yieldingly and resiliently held in position and are therefore relatively secured against breakage.

The containers themselves without contents are shipped in the position shown in Fig. 6, which-shows the collapsed position for shipping, a section being shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that the flaps 14 are removed from their engagement with the cutouts 13, and when this is done, the pressure may be applied at the points 27 and thereby the container collapsed into the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Such containers led themselves very readily to shipment, as they take up no room of any amount, and large numbers may be shipped in a relatively small space.

lVhen the blanks are received at the place destined for use, the user presses at the corners 28 so as to bring the portions into boxlike shape, and thereupon presses the eggs against the flaps '14 until they engage with the circular cutouts whereby they are held in position, and at the same time the flaps act as'a stay to hold the containers in boxlike form, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. No other stay is necessary than the cooperation of the two flaps 18 and 14. The eggs may thereby be readily inserted in one group of opening 29, and the flaps 14 pressed down with the eggs and the other group of open compartments indicated by 30 in Fig. 2, may then be moved over so asto enclose the portions of the eggs protruding from the first group of compartments.

In the modified form of blank, shown in Fig. 9, which operates in identically the same way when joined together as the blank shown in Fig. 8, instead of roviding the cutouts 13 on the flaps 18, this end portion of the blank is provided with fingers 31 cut out in the same manner as the fingers 16 of the flaps 14. These fingers 16 are then pressed together against the fin ers 31 and intermesh and interlock therewit and thereby provide a yielding and resilient,

seat for the ends of the eggs in the nature of a cushion.

In Fig. 10 instead of having the fingers 16 and 31, the blank is provided throughout with cutouts like 13 in Fig. 8, the flaps 14: also being provided with cutouts 32. The remaining fingers 33, that remain after the cutouts 32 have been provided, intermesh with the fingers of the flaps 18 which surround the cutouts 13.

By the mechanism described, I provide an eggjcarrier made of card board or suitable material, which may be readily stamped out by means of one operation, as shown in either of the blanks shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. And by the simple process of joining the portions together, and pressing the flaps downwardly in stay form position, a complete container is provided, which may be filled with eggs and made ready for shipment in a very short time. The flaps act as stays when pressed down and also as cushioning members. Due to the simplicity of the form of the invention, the expense of placing the same on the market is relatively small, which is an important feature of containers of this kind.

The container described has been shown to be capable of being used with eggs, but is is clear that any other frangible devices may be utilized, as, for instance, incandescent bulbs and the like, and many other uses will be apparent on the disclosure of the foregoing invention and its embodiment.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a container for one row of eggs, but it is equally facile to form a container for two rows of eggs. For this purpose, it is only necessary to join two single row containers together with some adhesive or stapling device. This is done by placing two containers when in the position as in Figure 2 next to each other and .join the ad aCent sides 21, then fill the adJaQent central rows, and swing the outer cover portions over the eggs when inserted therein.

It will be praticularly noted that the flaps 18 by extending upwardly against the sides of the container serve to give strength to the container, and at the same time guidingly hold the eggs-ends and also act to cushion it. The other flaps resting loosely in the container when depressed, extend towards the stay-flaps 18, and adapt themselves to each particular shape of each e g.

As some eggs are larger than others, t e flaps 14, with their fingers adapt themselves to each size and shape, and thus hug ingly cushion it. As the container is use only once, there is no need of re-adapting these flaps to new shape. The entrance of the eggs into the compartments cause the shaping of the flaps to the eggs and provide a satisfactory cushion and conforming seat to the eggs. The efficient operation of the container enables a container to be made of lighter material.

I have described various embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit in the following claims.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

of the invention as defined silient holding members arranged at the to or bottom of said compartments for and a apted to hold the top or bottom of the articles in said compartments.

2. A container provided with compartments, each provided with an opening, and each having diagonally arranged meeting members, which cooperate to form a supporting surface at the top or bottom of the compartments, said members being interlockifig and acting when interlocked as stays to maintain the container in open position, with the compartments in reverse position to each other.

3. A container comprising compartments, each provided .with an opening, a downwardly extending diagonally arranged member having a cutout, said members abutting against each other and interlocking with g each other, and a hinge joining the two compartments, enabling the compartments to be superimposed on each other in reverse matching position to form containers, with the interlocking members forming yieldable, resilient holding members at the top and bottom of the containers.

4:- A container formed only of a flat blank, comprising two sets of a plurality of matchmg compartments in reverse position to each 0t er, which compartments each have an opening and interlocking yieldable and resilient members adapted to form a bearing support at the bottom of each compartment when said compartments are in reverse position to each other, said compartments adapted to be superimposed on each other to form containers, with the interlocking members at the top and bottom of the containers, and said members adapted to simultaneously act as a stay for holding the compartments in open position, said members being adapted to be released of their interlocking position, whereby the containers may be flattened into'collapsed position for shipment.

5. A container comprising compartments, each provided with an opening, and each provided with ieldable, resilient holding members, one ot said members acting as a stay and guide, and the other acting as a spring member, and both forming a cushioned spring seat at the bottom or.top wall of the compartments adapted to receive the ends of the articles to be held for holding them yieldingly in position against turnmg.

6. A container comprising compartments, each formed of a box-like structure, having bottom, side walls, and an open top, a flap extending downwardly along one side wall and connected therewith, and then extending loosely in diagonal direction towards the other side wall, and acting as a spring, a second flap extending from the upper part of the other side wall in diagonal down- Ward direction to the opposite side wall, the ends of both flaps meetin near the bottom and being interlocked to orm a cushioned, resilient seat for the ends of the articles to be held.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 'as my invention I have signed my name hereto.

HENRY R. HANSEN. 

